Within fifteen years, Davidsonville rose in size and importance and then quickly faded into oblivion. Local myths later blamed its fall on yellow fever, a mass exodus, or a fire, but no evidence supports those stories. Historical and archeological evidence instead points to environmental and political influences. Although its location near three rivers seemed logical, spring flooding disrupted transportation routes and isolated the town, and the Black River crossing was eventually moved to a less flood-prone place. Davidsonville also lay on a spur rather than directly on the Southwest Trail, which hurt the town as that route grew in importance. Flooding made the town unsuitable as a county seat, settlers moved farther west to better land, and residents left the flood-prone area for drier places. The federal land office followed the population west to Batesville after only two years, and in 1829 the Lawrence County seat moved from Davidsonville to Jackson on the Southwest Trail. As people left, buildings were moved or dismantled and their materials reused, until little remained and nature covered the site.